Leading Change in the Established Church Conference
Is your church ‘old wineskins, no wine’ – ‘old wineskins, new wine’– ‘new wineskins, no wine’ – or ‘new wine, new wineskins?’ asked Bill Elliff at the Leading Change in the Established Church Conference hosted by Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fairfield, October 26-28. Using Luke 5:37-38 Elliff challenged pastors and wives concerning our greatest need: new wine – the life-giving presence of the King – as much as new wineskins – that which is designed to hold and release the new wine. Leading change in the church requires the leader to be growing in intimacy with the Father, leading with a humble courage and a continuous spirit of forgiveness was the topic of session 2. Sessions 3 & 4 answered the question – Launching Change: Where do I begin?
Breakout sessions covered topics like The #1 Reason Change Efforts Fail: Understanding Systems led by Danny Rollins (Rolling Hills Baptist, Fairfield); What I’ve learned about Change from Nehemiah led by Darrel Gabbard (Dublin Baptist Church); Resolving Church Conflict Biblically led by Johnny Johnson (Peacemakers); The Overlooked Secret of Change: Utilizing Teams led by Vann Kissell (FBC, Troy, TN) and Innovation and Change led by Marcus Marcum (7 Hills Church, Florence, KY). A special feature was breakout sessions for the wives led by Leann Rollins, former IMB missionary, and wife of host pastor Danny Rollins. The ladies were also treated to an afternoon of pampering by the Rolling Hills church family.
During lunch Wednesday, three of the Rolling Hills church leaders led a discussion on what the lay people of the church need and want from a pastor leading change. Deacons Ron Rush and Lamont Jacobs and young adult Kenda Moss shared their hearts about experiencing change from the church members perspective.
Two pastors received special gifts of a week retreat at the Life Action Lodge and Retreat Center in Buchanan, Michigan and the Summit Church Retreat Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The event was a cooperative effort by Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Cincinnati Baptist Association, and the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio and was partially funded by your Cooperative Program giving.
